[Oxford United](https://lastwordonsports.com/football/2025/08/25/team-news-form-and-prediction-as-oxford-united-welcome-brighton/) got thrown out of the Carabao Cup in sensational style with a 6-0 defeat at home against Brighton.
The U’s were two goals down by the break but the Premier League outfit added a further four in the second 45.
It was Oxford’s heaviest League Cup loss and was Gary Rowett’s biggest defeat in management.
Here are three talking points from the game.
**Read More**: [Team News, Form and Prediction as Oxford United Welcome Brighton](https://lastwordonsports.com/football/2025/08/25/team-news-form-and-prediction-as-oxford-united-welcome-brighton/)
Oxford United Lose Against Brighton
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### Defensive Issues Continue
It goes without saying that conceding six goals, home or away, is unacceptable. Brighton carved open a back three of Sam Long, Elliott Moore and Brodie Spencer far too often, with the club captain often targeted by the visiting side.
Matt Phillips and Jack Currie were the full-backs, but they were also unable to compete against their opposition.
Even the midfield duo of Cameron Brannagan and Will Vaulks were outrun in the middle of the park as Brighton overloaded when in transition.
### Positive Attacking Chances
While Oxford failed to find the back of the net, they created plenty of chances but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant the U’s drew a blank.
Przemyslaw Placheta was one-on-one inside the opening minute but struck straight at Jason Steele.
Mark Harris was presented with a decent opportunity from 12 yards out but also struck the ball straight at the former England U21 international.
In the second half, Luke Harris and Nik Prelec came on to make their U’s debut along with Brian De Keersmaecker, who made his home bow, and the trio were all involved in the final third.
First, Prelec was played through but was also thwarted by the goalkeeper before Steele made a double stop. First, he denied Luke Harris with an effort from the edge of the box before stopping Prelec with the follow-up. The ball was recycled to De Keersmaecker who then beat the goalkeeper, but his effort was cleared off the line.
Oxford finished the game with more shots on target than the Seagulls but were clearly far less clinical.
### Injury Worries
Rowett made eight changes from the side that lost at Birmingham last time out to give game time to some of the fringe players, but it was two regulars who picked up knocks in this clash.
First, Spencer was forced off just ten minutes into the second half while Currie went down late on and struggled to continue, giving the head coach some potential selection headaches in the upcoming fixture against Coventry.